New York Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz filed a brief in U.S. District Court in Utica asking for the Interstate Commerce Commission to restore the famed Phoebe Snow line, of the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, to service and the return of passenger service between Port Jervis and Binghamton, New York.
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Joseph Watley was heading to his home in Connecticut when a Pennsylvania state trooper pulled him over near the Blooming Grove exit on Interstate 84 in Pike County for allegedly driving 48 mph in a 65 mph zone.
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Editor: I commend The Times Tribune editorial staff (“Everything must be fine, or ...” April 16) for so succinctly describing the issues created by Pennsylvania’s gerrymandered districts.

There is a statewide effort by a coalition of organizations concerned about redistricting and working to advance a solution. At FairdistrictsPA.com, citizens can learn about the problem, the current approach to redistricting and proposed solutions.

Legislation with bipartisan sponsorship has been introduced by Sen. Lisa Boscola, a Democrat from Northampton County, and Rep. David Parker, a Monroe County Republican, to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to establish an independent citizens redistricting commission. Such a commission would remove the conflict of interest that exists when legislators draw their own legislative districts. Both bills are currently in the respective state government committees.

If, like me, you feel that your state government has become dysfunctional and that “safe” election districts are the problem, I encourage you to visit FairdistrictsPA.com, educate yourself, sign the petition and get in touch with your state senators and representatives to communicate your support for redistricting reform.

DIANA DAKEY

DALTON

Suspicious driver

Editor: I suppose I am somewhat a conspiracy theorist, but rising gasoline prices have only fueled my suspicions this spring.

On a recent trip to Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters Tournament, I drove through several southern states and encountered gasoline prices as low as $1.49 per gallon. The median price was probably $1.79.

Yet in Pennsylvania, and I understand our high state-tax situation, prices are now 50 cents per gallon above what I had encountered, within a couple weeks.

Something tells me that once gasoline prices plummeted, one reaction of some drivers was again to leap into the large-vehicle market. If fuel prices would be low, driving a large SUV or pickup truck that gets 15 to 18 miles per gallon is more palatable.

So now, those drivers may have financing deals of 60 or as many as 84 months and suddenly, the low prices have nearly vanished.

So are higher prices really reflective of higher oil prices or refinery conversions to the “summer blend,” or was it a sucker move to lure the large vehicles back onto the road so they can chug large volumes of fuel?

Is it all just a coincidence? I have my suspicions.

JOE MIEGOC

CARBONDALE

Update regulations

Editor: For too long, oil and gas operators in Pennsylvania have conducted their activities under outdated regulations and limited oversight — factors that have helped spur growing impacts on water, air, health, and communities.

While even stronger protections are needed, the final draft regulations released by the state Department of Environmental Protection represent a significant step forward in aligning the state’s oil and gas regulations with new technologies and modern-day practices used at conventional and unconventional well sites.

They reflect nearly four years of work, including 12 public hearings and 30,000 public comments.

Just as the general public, the oil and gas industry and legislators have had ample time to weigh in on the draft regulations. They have had an even greater opportunity to influence the final regulations due to their representation on various committees overseeing the formal review process. In addition, the oil and gas industry asked for two sets of regulations — and now there are two sets of regulations.

The two sets of regulations are properly promulgated and legally sound. Any continued efforts to derail passage would undermine the commonwealth’s regulatory and policy procedures and DEP’s statutory authority.

Our organization and others ask the state Independent Regulatory Review Commission to support the swift adoption and implementation of the regulations for both conventional and unconventional oil and gas operations.

JOANNE KILGOUR

DIRECTOR,

SIERRA CLUB PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER,

HARRISBURG

Enough oversight

Editor: Natural gas producers already are working to reduce methane emissions. Their efforts are working, as these emissions are down in the commonwealth. They are dealing with this already, so I don’t see the need for more regulation.

Another attack on energy production is underway by Gov. Tom Wolf. I hope he reconsiders it.

Shale gas development already is in a slump. Because of low natural gas prices, we see less economic activity in the industry. Imposing new regulations on natural gas producers will only hurt the industry further, leading to more job loss and more pain for local communities.

ALAN J. LISPI

SCRANTON

Controls targeted

Editor: The oil and gas industry claims that it cares about the environment but its actions speak louder than words. Examples of pollution in Northeast Pennsylvania are legendary. Now, the industry is lobbying hard to kill proposed regulations that embody the most common-sense standards of public health and environmental protection.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has worked for five years to update protections to our land, water and communities from oil and gas drilling. The resulting proposed regulations, under Pennsylvania Code Chapter 78, reflect this thoughtful, deliberative process. As the department’s public and transparent process nears completion, legislators are doing the bidding of industry as they push forward unwarranted bills to block these much-needed rules.

A Senate committee recently approved a poorly conceived resolution to kill these rules, a measure whose passage would only serve to harm our communities. The health and welfare of our families and communities should not be used as bargaining chips by elected officials. These representatives of the people need to work in good conscience to help their constituents.

BARBARA L. SMITH

THORNHURST

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